The late afternoon sun streamed through the sheer curtains of Katie and Alice’s shared apartment, casting a golden glow across their cozy bedroom. The air was still humid from Katie’s post-gym shower, the faint scent of her coconut body wash lingering as she stood before the full-length mirror, a fluffy white towel wrapped snugly around her athletic frame. Droplets of water clung to her tanned skin, sliding lazily down her collarbone as she tilted her head, inspecting herself with the precision of a sculptor appraising their masterpiece.
“Damn,” Katie muttered to herself, running a hand over her sculpted abs, each ridge defined even under the soft towel. She twisted her hips, craning her neck to catch a glimpse of her perfectly toned ass in the reflection. A satisfied smirk curled her lips. “Still got it.”
From the bed, Alice let out a dramatic scoff, not even bothering to look up from her phone. Her wiry frame was sprawled across the duvet, one leg dangling off the edge, her sharp green eyes glinting with mischief even as they stayed glued to the screen. “Oh, please, goddess divine,” she drawled, her voice dripping with mock reverence. “Shall we erect a temple in your honor, or are we just sticking with the mirror shrine for now?”
Katie rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a grin. She turned to face Alice, hands on her hips, the towel slipping just an inch to reveal the curve of her thigh. “Hater. You’re just jealous you don’t have abs you could grate cheese on.” She flexed her stomach for emphasis, the muscles popping under her skin.
Alice finally looked up, her smirk razor-sharp as she propped herself on one elbow. “Oh, honey, I’ve got better things to do than spend three hours a day worshipping at the altar of dumbbells. Besides, I prefer my cheese grated on something a little… softer.” Her gaze flicked over Katie’s body, lingering just long enough to make her point before returning to her phone with a casual shrug.
Katie laughed, a bright, uninhibited sound, and strutted over to the bed, her bare feet padding softly against the hardwood floor. “Keep talking, babe. We both know you can’t resist this.” She struck a dramatic pose, one hand behind her head, the other pointing to her flexed bicep. “Feast your eyes.”
Alice snorted, tossing her phone aside to give Katie her full, unimpressed attention. “Feast? Sweetheart, I’ve seen better displays at the farmer’s market. Come on, give me something new. Or are we just recycling the same old ‘look at my perfect body’ routine?”
Katie dropped the pose, her grin widening as she leaned over the bed, her damp hair brushing against Alice’s arm. “New? Oh, I’ve got plenty of new for you. How about I drop this towel and give you a private show? VIP access only.”
Alice’s eyes narrowed, a predatory glint flashing in them as she sat up, closing the distance between them. “Tempting. But I’m not sure I can afford the ticket price. What’s the cost of admission to the Katie Show these days? A bottle of rosé and a pizza? ‘Cause I’ve noticed you’ve been indulging a bit more lately.” Her tone was teasing, but there was a pointed edge to it, her gaze dropping briefly to Katie’s midsection before meeting her eyes again.
Katie blinked, caught off guard for a split second, before waving a hand dismissively. “Please. It’s called bulking for gains. I’m building muscle, not fluff. You think these curves come cheap?” She slapped her thigh for emphasis, the sound echoing in the quiet room.
Alice arched a brow, her smirk growing. “Bulking, huh? Is that what we’re calling those late-night ice cream runs now? Or the extra glass of wine last night? ‘Cause, babe, I’m not blind. That middle of yours is looking just a teensy bit… softer.” She pinched her fingers together, holding them up with a wicked grin.
Katie’s jaw dropped, mock offense written all over her face as she straightened up. “Softer? Alice, I will have you know that I am a finely tuned machine. This—” she gestured to her body, “—is peak performance. You’re just trying to get under my skin.”
“Oh, I’m already under your skin, darling,” Alice shot back, her voice low and laced with innuendo. She swung her legs off the bed, standing to face Katie, her smaller frame somehow commanding the space between them. “But if you’re so confident, why don’t we put that ‘peak performance’ to the test? Let’s see what the scale says. Unless, of course, you’re scared of a little number.”
Katie scoffed, folding her arms over her chest, the towel shifting slightly. “Scared? Of a scale? Babe, I invented confidence. I’ll step on that thing right now and prove I’m still the queen of this castle.”
Alice’s grin was triumphant as she gestured toward the bathroom with a flourish. “After you, Your Majesty. Let’s see if the crown still fits.”
Rolling her eyes but unable to resist the challenge, Katie sauntered past Alice, her hips swaying with deliberate exaggeration. “Keep up, peasant. You’re about to witness greatness.”
The bathroom was small but sleek, the tiles cool under Katie’s feet as she stepped inside. The digital scale sat innocently in the corner, a silent judge waiting to deliver its verdict. Alice leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, her sharp eyes watching every move with an intensity that made Katie’s skin prickle.
“Go on, then,” Alice urged, her voice a velvet taunt. “Show me how a goddess weighs in. Or are we stalling for dramatic effect?”
Katie shot her a playful glare before dropping the towel just enough to step onto the scale, her bare feet pressing against the cold surface. She held her breath, her confident smirk still in place as the numbers flickered and settled. 16%. Body fat. Just a tiny uptick from her usual 14.5%, barely noticeable to anyone but her. But it was enough. Her brow furrowed for a fleeting moment, a flicker of doubt crossing her face before she masked it with a laugh.
“See? Still perfection,” she declared, stepping off the scale and wrapping the towel tighter around herself. “Told you I’m bulking. Gains, baby. Gains.”
Alice tilted her head, her smirk never wavering as she pushed off the doorframe and stepped closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Sure, gains. But let’s keep an eye on that, shall we? Wouldn’t want my goddess getting too… comfortable.” She reached out, brushing a stray droplet of water from Katie’s shoulder, her touch lingering just a second too long.
Katie shivered despite herself, meeting Alice’s gaze with a defiant spark in her own. “Comfortable? Never. I’m just getting started, babe. Watch me.”
Alice chuckled, low and dangerous, as she turned back toward the bedroom. “Oh, I’m watching, Katie. Believe me, I’m watching.”
As Katie lingered in the bathroom, her reflection staring back at her from the mirror above the sink, that tiny number—16%—echoed in her mind. It was nothing, really. Just a blip. But as she traced the faint outline of her abs with her fingertips, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting, however small. And with Alice’s sharp tongue and sharper eyes always on her, she knew she’d have to stay on her toes.
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